On 5 February 2004, the Executive Committee of Comhaltas na Mac Léinn called a referendum (number RFC04/1) of its members under Section 18, Sub-section B.(i) of its Constitution to be held on 19 February 2004 on the motion below.
Votes in Favour – 741
Votes Against – 154
Total Valid Poll – 895
Spoiled Votes – 38
Total Poll – 933
Result – Passed
The full motion text is as follows:
“That the Constitution of the Students’ Union of the National University of Ireland, Galway, passed by referendum on 18th April 2002, be amended as follows:
ARTICLE 6: STRUCTURE
Section (i):
Replace the words “Schedule II” with “Article 19”.
ARTICLE 7: OFFICERS
Section A:
Insert “The Vice-President / Campaigns and Communication Officer” as subsection (iv);
Delete sub-section (vi) “The Press and Communications Officer”;
Re-number accordingly.
Section D:
Remove the word “two”.
ARTICLE 8: INDEMNITY
Replace the word “executive” with “execution”.
ARTICLE 9: GENERAL MEETINGS
Section E:
Delete the word “Ordinary” between “not less than three College days before the” and “General Meeting at which they are to be discussed”.
ARTICLE 10: CLASS REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL
Section G:
Delete existing section.
Replace with: “The CRC shall hold at least one meeting per fortnight in both semesters one and two.”
ARTICLE 11: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section A:
In sub-section (i), replace “committees” with “committees, and shall be the Chief Spokesperson of the Union”.
In sub-section (v), replace “Equality Assistance Officer of the University” with “appropriate University personnel”.
In sub-section (v), insert “S/He will represent Union members on various University committees.” after “referral for Union members.”
In sub-section (vii), replace “Disability Liaison Officer of the University” with “appropriate University personnel”.
In sub-section (vii), insert “S/He will represent Union members on various University committees.” after “consultation for Union members.”
In sub-section (viii), insert “S/He will represent Union members on various University committees.” after “for the position.”
In sub-section (ix), insert “S/He will represent Union members on various University committees.” after “to educate students on environmental issues.”
In sub-section (x), insert “As such, the Union recognises the Societies’ Chairperson as the Chief Representative of the University’s societies.” after “relevant University Committees.”
In sub-section (xi), insert “As such, the Union recognises the Clubs’ Captain as the Chief Representative of the University’s clubs.” after “relevant University Committees.”
Insert “The Vice-President, who shall act as Campaigns and Communication Officer. S/He shall with the President have responsibility for the co-ordination and administration of various campaigns in conjunction with the relevant members of the Executive Committee. S/He shall also have responsibility with the Secretary for informing and communicating Students’ Union campaigns, events and notices to members, and to the internal and external media. S/He shall represent members on various University committees, and shall have special responsibility for members on out-lying campuses. S/He shall be responsible for the non-editorial organisation and administration of all Union publications. The ultimate responsibility for Publications shall rest with the Publications Committee, without prejudice to Article 11, Section K, sub-section (iv). The Vice-President shall also be required to give a mandatory report on work carried out at each Executive meeting.” as sub-section (v);
Delete sub-section (vi) “The Press and Communications Officer”;
Re-number accordingly.
Section C:
Add “of the representational activities” after “for the day to day running” and before “of the Union”.
Section D:
Delete Section D in its entirety.
Section K:
Replace the word “two” with “the” in subsection (i).
Insert “The Publications Committee. This shall comprise of The President, the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary ex-officio and the relevant staff members appointed by the Board of Directors of Students’ Union Commercial Services Ltd. The duties of this committee are to oversee the non-editorial organisation of all Union publications and to decide on any matters relating to such which are not specifically covered in this constitution and it’s schedules, or in the Articles of Association or Memorandum of Association of Students’ Union Commercial Services Ltd or Seirbhisi Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe Teo.” as subsection (iv).
List the Committees and Fora in the order of:
Education Forum
Welfare Forum
Elections Committee
Publications Committee
Re-number all sections of this article accordingly.
ARTICLE 19: REVOCATION
Insert the following new Article, between the existing Articles 18 and 19.
“19. COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Students’ Union shall incorporate a company limited by guarantee and known as “Students’ Union Commercial Services Ltd”, (known hereafter as “the Company”).
The Company will be responsible for the Commercial activities of the Students’ Union, to include but not exclusively, Siopa na Mac Léinn, Concourse Catering, Bar Catering, Publications/Seirbhísí, Entertainments and the General Office Area. The Company shall be responsible for all Student Union bank accounts in operation at present with the exception of the Representational Account which shall be the full responsibility of the Students’ Union Executive.
The Company shall be responsible for the day-to-day running and financial management of the Students’ Union Club, but responsibility for the overall policy of the Club shall remain with the Bar Management Committee of the Students’ Union Club.
The Company will be entirely owned by the Students’ Union and will be responsible to the Students’ Union in respect of all matters which come under the control of the company.
The Students’ Union Executive shall appoint a Board of Directors who will oversee the running of the Company.
The Board of Directors shall comprise of the following:
The President of the time-being of the Students’ Union.
The immediate outgoing President of the Students’ Union. Where S/He is not available, a person nominated by the President of the time-being shall act in this role.
Three external board members, independent of the Students’ Union to be appointed by the Students’ Union Executive.
A member of staff of the Students’ Union elected from amongst the Managers by the Students’ Union Finance Committee.
The Students’ Union President’s position on the Board of Directors is contingent on his/her holding of the office of President of the Students’ Union. The immediate outgoing Students’ Union President’s position on the Board of Directors is contingent on S/He having held the position of President immediately prior to the current President of the time. The Students’ Union Executive Officers shall be obliged to resign their positions on the Board of Directors at the end of their term of Office or alternatively twelve months after taking up their position on the Board of Directors.
The member of staff appointed by the Students’ Union Finance Committee as the ex-officio member of the Board of Directors shall hold the position of secretary to the Board. S/He shall be a non-voting member of the Board. This member of the Board shall sit as an ex-officio member and shall be secretary to the Board of Directors.
The Executive of the Students’ Union will appoint three external members to the Board of Directors of the Company. Preferably, these nominees shall be graduates of NUI Galway. These members will hold their office by way of a three yearly contract issued by the Student Union Executive. In the event their contract is not renewed, they shall be obliged to resign from their position on the Board of Directors. It is envisaged by the Students’ Union Executive that the external board members appointed by them should possess expertise in the areas of finance, administration and personnel management and in such other areas as the executive shall from time to time deem appropriate.
The President of the Students’ Union of the time-being shall act as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Company.
The Board of Directors shall meet at not more than eight-weekly intervals, on a date set by the Board.
At these meetings the Administrator shall be required to report to the Board on the performance of the Commercial Activities.
Nothing in this document shall in any way infringe or take from the rights and privileges enjoyed by the employees of the Students’ Union or by contract employees of the Students’ Union, at the time of passing this document or anyone on leave of absence from the Students’ Union at the time of passing of this document.
Re-number all Articles accordingly.
SCHEDULE II OF THE CONSTITUTION
Delete this Schedule.”
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